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Birkel Family History

Birkel Surname Meaning

South German: from the personal name Bürkle a pet form of Burkhard (see Burkhart).

Probably also a variant of Berkel.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Birkel family from?

You can see how Birkel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Birkel family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Birkel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Birkel family living in Denbighshire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Birkel's in United Kingdom. Denbighshire and 3 other counties had the highest population of Birkel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Birkel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Birkel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Birkel. 33% of Birkel men worked as a Farmer and 30% of Birkel women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Birkel were Painter and Teacher.

View Census Data for Birkel | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    33%
  • Clerk
    15%
  • Laborer
    9%
  • Painter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    30%
  • Clerk
    24%
  • Nurse
    12%
  • Teacher
    12%

What Birkel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Birkel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Birkel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Birkel

Passenger Lists

There are 454 immigration records available for the last name Birkel. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Birkel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 810 military records available for the last name Birkel. For the veterans among your Birkel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Birkel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Birkel family history

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What is the average Birkel lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Birkel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Birkel in 1945 was 52, and 87 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Birkel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Birkel ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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